I have to admit- volunteering was not my jam growing up. I did the usual church events and community efforts and Girl Scouts, but sacrificing my precious free was not something that I was eager to do. I always felt bad about how much I hated to do stuff like that, mainly because of the large social component and my tendency toward introversion. I really hate being in situations where I don’t know what is going on or what to do, and it seemed like that was what the volunteer opportunities were limited to.
When we finally decided to adopt a dog after 10 years of waiting, we knew we wanted to support a local rescue. We got the name of one through work friends, and were able to adopt a heeler mix puppy from a mama that was rescued while pregnant. Two years later and she dominates every thought and picture with her adorable face and personality. I took some time off work during the pandemic to recover from my last job- it was time I needed to breathe, but it was also a lot of unstructured time that was beginning to all blend together. The director of the rescue asked if I would like to volunteer as the spay/neuter coordinator (a social worker for dogs, basically) to help other dogs like mine to find their forever homes. At first I was really hesitant- I had not had good experiences with volunteering, and this was a really important relationship that I wanted to keep in good condition. I was burned out from work and it was hard to imagine feeling motivated to dip my toe back in, even for dogs.
I said yes, figuring that it was good to push my boundaries and try MAYBE being selfless for once (or some shit). It was overwhelming to start, but then I did my first transportation run- I helped get the puppies to their spay/neuter appointments for foster families that were busy or working. For 30 minutes once a week, I got to cuddle THE CUTEST puppies I had ever seen. These puppies would never be subjected to multiple unhealthy pregnancies by breeders or homelessness, and they were being medically cleared to be eligible for adoption during the process- helping them find better and forever homes. It felt good to do something other than ruminate on my burnout, and it felt even better to be helping a population that actually wanted and needed my help— something that is often missing in social work, unfortunately.
That’s when it clicked for me— I didn’t hate volunteering. I hated volunteering for stuff I wasn’t passionate about. When I am focused on a skill or hobby or topic, then I become almost obsessive in the pursuit of mastering that area. I want to know everything about it and I am extremely self-motivated in ways that I always struggled with in other areas. It’s not that I as a person lack motivation to help— I just needed to find that key that unlocked the passion that was already there. It’s the same concept that clicked about making friends as an adult- it seems like it’s really hard sometimes and then you just click with someone and you realize you don’t suck at making friends, you suck at being friends with people who don’t get you.
So i learned to relax a little, give myself a break, and have a little patience. The people who are meant to be in my life will be, and the paths I am meant to take will show up when I need them to. All I have to do is follow my passion and my gut- I’ve trusted them this far and they have given me a life that I am constantly grateful for. I’m grateful to have empathy, even when it’s hard. I’m grateful to have opportunities, even when they push my boundaries. I’m grateful for the gift of time, even if I grapple with guilt of not being on a “traditional” path.
And I’m grateful for my dog, who reminds me that I am someone worth loving every day ❤️ Adopt, don’t shop, and support your local rescues 🐾